Yerevan standoff: Gunman wounded after shots heard near police HQJuly 29, 2016 - 17:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Member of the armed group that have seized a police HQ in Yerevan, Arayik Khandoyan was wounded on Friday, July 29. Shots were reportedly heard near the captured patrol department. No other information is available. In a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net the police declined to comment. Khandoyan is a Karabakh war veteran and member of the Founding Parliament. The group are members of the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) movement. One police officer was killed, and several more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a truck. All the captives have been set free. The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had allegedly planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower. They also demand the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and the creation of a transitional government. Besides, they want the authorities to halt Karabakh negotiations fearing they are going to cede lands around the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to Azerbaijan. The group took four paramedics hostage on July 27, but released one of them the next day. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |